The two and a half hour run time didn't seem like much, given how absolutely captivated I was by the breathtaking images in this film. Many of the shots were so beautiful, and more importantly, meaningful, that they reminded me of some of the great oil paintings I've had the pleasure of observing as an art connoisseur. The scene of the children asleep on the train in their parents clutch portrayed a powerful sense of innocence and security, foreshadowing what feelings would soon be put to the test.. Or the shot of Vera in a virgin-blue colored dress, sitting in contemplation on her bed. The usage of color gives rise to a new definition of "pastoral": of the quality of a pastel. These being just two of many examples of how such stunning imagery works in the film's favor and remaining entirely relevant.
Yes, the beauty of the film was even enough to keep me viewing, even when I started to lose my comprehension and understanding of what was going on in the final thirty minutes of the actual plot. When this occurred, I was left wondering if I was really so short sighted or if the director made something that was simply "complicated" and required a second viewing. Upon research and reflection, it appears there is nothing at all complicated about the story. If anything, the confusion was a result of how shrouded in mystery the wife's actions were. This, along with the sneakily added flashback scene at the end. It took a while to even realize I was watching a flashback and it was almost intentionally tricky to follow. This was frustrating as I had invested two hours of my time into the movie only to be thrown into a mild state of confusion at the last minute.
But even if you agree to label the flashback criticism as my own inept comprehension, let me come back again to the real source of frustration: The wife's actions. I simply cannot fathom how anyone in their right mind (haha, I just realized mid sentence that maybe she WASN'T in her right mind). And, oh my god... I don't think the women in the adapted novel this was based off of was in her right mind either! Actually, of course she wasn't in her right mind! She killed herself and her baby for Pete's sake! This explains everything!
*Please forgive my real time realizations mid-review, perhaps this will serve as more enjoyable or enlightening for any readers. I write these in part to enhance my own understanding.*
When I first became aware Alex was in fact the biological father, I was in shock, and almost disgusted with frustration over how Vera told him that "it wasn't his." "How stupid could she be?" I thought? Why would she NOT deny Alex's misguided thought that she was adulterous? Who in their right mind would do such a thing?! And that's the AHA! moment! She WASN'T in her right mind at all! And that, my peers of the internet, solves the enigma that is frustrating even the most astute of reviewers. It is so simple actually...As simple as a shot of water coursing through dried-up Earth.
And boy am I glad...because when I first saw this movie I was pouring over reviews trying to find reason and accountability for Vera. It took my own serious reflection with THIS written review to realize it. And...maybe I'm wrong? Maybe my realization is just as inept as my first-watch comprehension ability? But for me, my interpretation makes sense...With a reason discovered for Vera's actions, the movie's narrative becomes as beautiful as its cinematography... I recall one of my favorite movies ever, Tarkovsky's Zerkalo, to be in a similar vein: Demanding from it's viewer.
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